NCJ Number
177424
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 66 Issue: 4 Dated: April 1999 Pages: 17-24-30
Date Published
1999
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the importance of crime analysis as a part of any crime reduction strategy.
Abstract
On July 1, 1998, New York City released figures showing that overall crime for the first 6 months of the year had decreased by 49.3 percent and homicides by 69.3 percent, when compared to the same period in 1993. Crime had fallen by 9.7 percent compared to the previous year, and the murder rate for the first half of 1998 was at a 32-year low. Declines from 16.6 to 67.4 percent were noted in rape, robbery, felonious assault, burglary, grand larceny, auto theft, shooting incidents and number of shooting victims. A key ingredient of New York's success was crime analysis, in the form of COMPSTAT, that forced the police department's borough commanders to respond to crime statistics generated by their civilian crime analysis personnel. The city's crime reduction strategy blended crime analysis, directed patrol, bike patrols, gang- and narco-suppression teams and COPS programs into a clear, focused effort. The article includes a history of crime analysis, techniques for collaborative efforts, and suggestions for informing the community.